...By Gift BADEWO for TDPel Media.
Two Sisters Among Victims in Texas Mall Shooting by Swastika-Tattooed Gunman
On May 7, 2023, a mass shooting occurred at a mall in Allen, Texas, leaving eight people dead and seven injured.
The gunman, Mauricio Garcia, 33, was killed by police during the incident.
As the investigation continues, a disturbing picture has emerged of the shooter’s possible affiliation with white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideologies.
Garcia had tattoos of a swastika and a SS lightning bolt, as well as a patch on his chest reading RWDS, an acronym popular among extremist and white supremacy groups.
Federal agents are currently reviewing Garcia’s social media accounts to investigate his interests further.
Victims Identified
On May 9, the identities of the victims were revealed.
Among them were two young sisters, Daniela Mendoza, 10, and Sofia Mendoza, 8.
They took cheerleading classes at Wylie Elite gym, which is located approximately 13 miles from the mall.
The gym paid tribute to the sisters on Facebook, encouraging everyone to wear yellow in their honor.
Daniela and Sofia attended Cheri Cox Elementary School, where they were described as “rays of sunshine” by the principal, Krista Wilson.
Another family that was affected was the Korean family of five, including a three-year-old boy, James Cho, who was killed in the shooting along with his parents.
James’ six-year-old brother, William, survived the shooting and has since been moved from ICU.
A GoFundMe campaign for the Korean family has raised nearly $200,000.
Christian LaCour, 20, who worked as a security guard at the mall, was also killed in the shooting.
His grandmother described him as a “beautiful soul.”
Engineer Aishwarya Thatikonda, 27, who was originally from Hyderabad, India, was shopping for her upcoming birthday when she was killed.
Her friend was also injured in the shooting and is currently in stable condition in the hospital.
Finally, Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, from Dallas, was also confirmed as a victim.
Ongoing Investigation
Investigators believe Garcia acted alone in the shooting, but they have not yet determined a motive.
The police found multiple weapons, including an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, in a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying.
Medical City Healthcare continues to treat six patients from the shooting, with three of them being in critical condition.
